Most folks would not expect to find a slot canyon in Illinois, where the corn grows tall and the wind, generally speaking, whips unimpeded across the state. But there happens to be a narrow gorge in the Land of Lincoln that’s a dead ringer for Arizona’s Antelope Canyon.
To find it, you need to head to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.
grzzz/TripAdvisor
There, within the Pounds Hollow Ecological Area, you’ll find the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail.
majburt/TripAdvisor The name “Pounds Hollow” refers to the area’s narrow rock formations. It’s derived from an old English term meaning “enclosure,” as in “dog pound.”
As its name implies, the Rim Rock Trail traces the edge of a rock escarpment, through upland forests.
Matthew C/TripAdvisor
On the upper trail, hikers are treated to bluff-side views…
Adrian Lopez/TripAdvisor
…and sweeping vistas across the valley.
Michael Witt/AllTrails
About halfway around the 0.8-mile upper trail loop, you’ll come across a steep set of wooden stairs that appear to descend into a hole in the rocky ground.
Cary Allen/Google
Follow them down, and you’ll find yourself in a narrow slot canyon, the water-carved walls of which are barely the width of your shoulders.
Nan16_12/TripAdvisor
You’ll be wowed by the ancient sandstone formations.
Brandy Jerauld/AllTrails
Explore hollows and slots that fork off from the main trail.
Mike Varner/Google
Look up through the narrow canyon to see the forest above you.
Georg Courtney/Google
As you reach the end of the slot canyon, you’ll encounter a large hollowed out space in the side of the escarpment: Ox-lot Cave.
Ashley Martin/AllTrails
From there, you can return back through the canyon, or you can follow the lower trail through the valley, along the base of the escarpment, back to the trailhead.
Michael Witt/AllTrails
The round trip total for this moderate hike is only about 1.5 miles. The upper portion of Rim Rock National Recreation Trail is accessible, but the lower trail through the slot canyon is not. While in the area, don’t forget to pay a visit to the beautifully rugged Ferne Clyffe State Park, which is adjacent to Shawnee National Forest. Have you hiked the Rim Rock trail? Can you think of any other slot canyons in Illinois?
grzzz/TripAdvisor
majburt/TripAdvisor
The name “Pounds Hollow” refers to the area’s narrow rock formations. It’s derived from an old English term meaning “enclosure,” as in “dog pound.”
Matthew C/TripAdvisor
Adrian Lopez/TripAdvisor
Michael Witt/AllTrails
Cary Allen/Google
Nan16_12/TripAdvisor
Brandy Jerauld/AllTrails
Mike Varner/Google
Georg Courtney/Google
Ashley Martin/AllTrails
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Address: Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, Eagle Creek, RR 1 Box 198B, Findlay, IL 62534, USA
